Navigation device and related method

ABSTRACT

A navigation device, installed on a vehicle to enable information to be provided to an occupant of the vehicle, includes a display section providing a display of an image to the occupant of the vehicle, a speech recognition section executing speech recognition processing for a voice input relating to a speech recognition object word that forms a word to be an objective for speech recognition, and an information providing processor section compelling a predetermined image to be displayed on the display section depending on a recognized content resulting through the speech recognition processing in the presence of recognition of the speech recognition object word resulting through the speech recognition processing. The speech recognition section executes second speech recognition processing for the speech recognition object word except for the speech recognition object word present in the image currently displayed in the display section in the presence of a failure in recognition of the speech recognition object word.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a navigation device and itsrelated method and, more particularly, to a navigation device that isoperative particularly through a voice and its related method.

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H7-319383discloses a navigation device that allows a user to voice input for aspeech recognition object word displayed on a screen to enable a map tobe shifted on the screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] However, upon studies conducted by the present inventors, withsuch a navigation device, a probability occurs in that even a speechrecognition object word, related to a place name or the like displayedon a screen of a display once in the midcourse of operation, tends tosuffer from an inability to be displayed on the current screen under asituation where the screen is subsequently varied.

[0004] In such a case, it is conceivable for a user to voice input thespeech recognition object word related to the place name or the likethat has not been already displayed on the screen and, even in thepresence of the voice input, substantially, it is conceived that asituation occurs where it becomes hard to designate the place name.

[0005] The present invention has been completed upon such studies andhas an object to provide a navigation device and a related method thatenable a speech recognition object word to be easily and reliabledesignated.

[0006] To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present inventionis a navigation device adapted to be installed on a vehicle and enablinginformation to be provided to an occupant of the vehicle, the navigationdevice comprising: a display section displaying an image to an occupantof a vehicle; a speech recognition section executing speech recognitionprocessing for a voice input relating to a speech recognition objectword that is a word to be an object for speech recognition, in such amanner that in a case that a failure occurs in recognition as to thespeech recognition object word, second speech recognition processing isexecuted for the speech recognition object word except for the speechrecognition object word present in the image currently displayed in thedisplay section; and an information providing processor sectioncompelling a predetermined image to be displayed on the display sectionbased on a recognized content resulting through the speech recognitionprocessing in a case that the speech recognition object word isrecognized through the speech recognition processing.

[0007] In other words, another aspect of the present invention is anavigation device adapted to be installed on a vehicle and enablinginformation to be provided to an occupant of the vehicle, the navigationdevice comprising: displaying means for displaying an image to anoccupant of a vehicle; speech recognition processing means forprocessing to execute speech recognition processing for a voice inputrelating to a speech recognition object word that is a word to be anobject for speech recognition, in such a manner that in a case that afailure occurs in recognition as to the speech recognition object word,second speech recognition processing is executed for the speechrecognition object word except for the speech recognition object wordpresent in the image currently displayed in the display section; andinformation providing processing means for processing to compel apredetermined image to be displayed on the display section based on arecognized content resulting through the speech recognition processingin a case that the speech recognition object word is recognized throughthe speech recognition processing.

[0008] In the meanwhile, another aspect of the present invention is amethod of recognizing a speech in a navigation device adapted to beinstalled on a vehicle and enabling information to be provided to anoccupant of the vehicle through a display section, the methodcomprising: executing, when speech recognition processing for a voiceinput relating to a speech recognition object word that is a word to bean object for speech recognition is performed and in the presence of afailure of recognition for the speech recognition object word, secondspeech recognition processing for the speech recognition object wordexcept for the speech recognition object word present in the imagecurrently displayed in a display section; and displaying, when thespeech recognition processing for the voice input relating to the speechrecognition object word and in the presence of recognition of the speechrecognition object word, a predetermined image on the display sectionbased on a recognized content resulting through the speech recognitionprocessing.

[0009] Other and further features, advantages, and benefits of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a structural view illustrating a structure of anavigation device of an embodiment according to the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a basic sequence of operationsof the navigation device of the embodiment;

[0012]FIG. 3 is an illustrative view illustrating a speech recognitionobject word displayed in an image of a screen of a display of thenavigation device of the embodiment;

[0013]FIG. 4A is an illustrative view illustrating map image data inwhich a display corresponding region in an enlarged scale is set, FIG.4B is an illustrative view illustrating map image data in which adisplay region in a current display scale is set, and FIG. 4C is anillustrative view illustrating map image data in which a displaycorresponding region in contracted scale is set, respectively in theembodiment;

[0014]FIG. 5 is an illustrative view illustrating a displaycorresponding region in a case that map image data is prepared in meshshapes, in the embodiment;

[0015]FIG. 6 is an illustrative view illustrating a travel historydepending on days of the week, in the embodiment;

[0016]FIG. 7 is an illustrative view principally illustrating anexpanded region in map image data in the enlarged scale, in theembodiment;

[0017]FIG. 8A is an illustrative view principally illustrating anexpanded region that is for use as one example of the processing in stepST106 and set in map image data in an enlarged scale with a currentdisplay scale being enlarged, and FIG. 8B is an illustrative viewillustrating a display region in map image data in a current displayscale, respectively in the embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 9A is an illustrative view illustrating an expanded regionthat is for use as another example of the processing in step ST106 andset in map image data in an enlarged scale with a current display scalebeing enlarged, and FIG. 9B is an illustrative view illustrating adisplay region in map image data in a current display scale,respectively in the embodiment;

[0019]FIG. 10A is an illustrative view illustrating a displaycorresponding region and an expanded region that is for use as anotherexample of the processing in step ST106 and set in map image data in anenlarged scale with a current display scale being enlarged, and FIG. 10Bis an illustrative view illustrating a display region in map image datain a current display scale, respectively in the embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 11A is an illustrative view principally illustrating adisplay corresponding region set in map image data in an enlarged scalewith the current display scale being enlarged as shown in FIGS. 10A and10B, and FIG. 11B is an illustrative view illustrating a display regionin map image data in a current display scale, respectively in theembodiment;

[0021]FIG. 12A is an illustrative view principally illustrating anexpanded region in map image data in an enlarged scale for use in theprocessing of step ST107, FIG. 12B is an illustrative view principallyillustrating an expanded region in map image data in a current displayscale for use in the processing of step ST107, and FIG. 12C is anillustrative view principally illustrating an expanded region in mapimage data in contracted scale for use in the processing of step ST107,respectively in the embodiment; and

[0022]FIG. 13 is an illustrative view illustrating a map image on ascreen of a display provided by the processing in step ST108, in theembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Hereinafter, a navigation device and its related method of anembodiment according to the present invention are described below indetail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13.

[0024]FIG. 1 is a structural view illustrating the navigation of thepresently filed embodiment.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 is adapted to beinstalled in a vehicle V such as an automobile to allow information,such as a traveling route to a destination, to be provided to a user,such as an occupant of the vehicle, through a display unit in accordancewith operation of the user.

[0026] The navigation device 1 is comprised of a voice input section 10through which a voice is inputted from the user, which is not shown, toallow the input voice to be converted to digital data to be outputted, aGPS receiver 11 that receives a radio wave delivered from a positioningsatellite, which is not shown, through a GPS antenna 11 a to obtain acurrent position of the vehicle and time (date and hour) to beoutputted, a vehicle history acquiring device 12 that typicallycalculate a total sum of travel distances of the vehicle day by day toclassify the travel distance data into respective averages by weekdays(such as Monday to Friday) and holidays (such as Saturday and Sunday)and stores these data as a vehicle history, a database section 20 thatstores various data, a navigation section 30 that is applied with adigital data signal S1 corresponding to the voice input delivered fromthe voice input section 10, a signal S2 carrying information indicativeof the current position and time (day and hour) delivered from the GPSreceiver 11 and a signal S3 carrying vehicle history informationdelivered from the vehicle history acquiring device 12, a display 40that displays an image in accordance with on map image data inputtedfrom the navigation section 30, and a speaker 50 that produces a voicein accordance with voice data prepared by and inputted from thenavigation section 30.

[0027] More particularly, the database section 20 includes a map dadasection 21 that has a variety of information such as roads, place names,facilities and land attributes (such as cities and suburbs) and storesthe map image data (hereinafter simply called as map data), havingspeech recognition object words correlated with these items, for eachdisplay scale (such as for each of 500 m, 1 km and 10 km), and arecognition dictionary section 22 that that stores and manages arecognition dictionary, for use in speech recognition processing in aspeech recognition section 31 of the navigation section 30, in linkedrelation with the speech recognition object words in the map data of themap dada section 21. Also, the map data section 21 stores the map datafor each scale in a form of suitable, mesh-like blocks.

[0028] Further, the database section 20 stores and manages the map datainside the map data section 21 in a form to be retrieved and also servesto extract the map data in a predetermined range, together with variousinformation, such as the land attribute, and the speech recognitionobject words, based on information correlated with the current positionor the like for delivery to the navigation section 30.

[0029] Furthermore, the navigation section 30 is comprised of the speechrecognition section 31 that recognizes a voice input that is inputtedwith respect to the speech recognition object word, which is a objectfor speech recognition and principally to be displayed on the display40, and a display processor section (information providing processorsection) 32 that allows a predetermined display image to be displayed onthe display 40 based on not only the map image corresponding to the mapdata but also a recognition result of the speech recognition object wordperformed by the speech recognition section 31. Also, the speechrecognition section 31 and the display processor section 32 of thenavigation section 30, and the map data section 21 and the recognitiondictionary section 22 of the database section 20 are controlled by acontroller 33 to perform various operations. Moreover, it is notobjectionable for the controller 33 to involve the speech recognitionsection 31 and the display processor section 32.

[0030] In particular, the controller 33 serves to allow the speechrecognition section 31 to acquire the recognition dictionary from thedatabase section 20 for speech recognition and to allow collationbetween the acquired recognition dictionary and the digital data fromthe voice input section 10 to execute the speech recognition. Also, thecontroller 33 serves to allow the display processor section 32 toacquire desired map data from the database section 20 to allow the mapimage to be combined with various information, such as the landattribute, and the speech recognition object word to be displayed on thedisplay 40, while at the same time serving to allow the speaker 50 tonotify a result as to whether the speech recognition object word utteredby the user is present.

[0031] Now, a basic sequence of operations of the navigation device withsuch a structure is described.

[0032]FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the navigationdevice 1 of the presently filed embodiment. Also, such operation isexecuted through control of the navigation section 30 and explanation ismade aiming at operation subsequent to voice input from the user.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, first, the voice input section 10 convertsvoice input data, resulting from a speach uttered by the user, intodigital data with a digital data signal being outputted to the speechrecognition section 31 of the navigation section 30 such that the speechrecognition section 31 is inputted with such a data signal (step ST100).

[0034] Consecutively, the navigation section 30 acquires currentposition information and time (day and hour) information from the GPSreceiver 11, and the speech recognition section 31 is inputted with suchdata signal (step ST101).

[0035] Subsequently, the speech recognition section 31 executescomparison between the speech recognition object word, in the map imagecurrently displayed on a screen of the display 40 based on the map datacorresponding to the current position information or the like, and thedigital data corresponding to the voice input, and discriminates to findwhether the speech recognition object word, in alignment with digitaldata corresponding to such a voice input, is present on the screen ofthe display 40 (ST102). In particular, the speech recognition objectword displayed in the map image of the current screen is extracted fromthe database section 20, and the digital data of the voice uttered bythe user and the speech recognition object word, which has beenextracted, is sequentially collated in the speech recognition section 31to discriminate to find whether coincidence exist between the two.

[0036] Here, description is made of the speech recognition object wordpresent in the map image on the screen of the display 40.

[0037]FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing the speech recognitionobject word present in the map image of the screen of the display 40.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, the display 40 displays a plurality of speechrecognition object words 60, such as “A-Station” and “A-DepartmentStore”, which are objects for speech recognition, in superposedrelationship with the map image G in which road information, landinformation and facility information are displayed.

[0039] That is, in the processing of ST102, the comparison is executedbetween the speech recognition object word 60, currently displayed onthe display 40 as shown in FIG. 3, and the digital data corresponding tothe voice input from the voice input section 10 and the discriminationis executed in the speech recognition section 31 to find whether thereis one which is in coincidence with the such digital data among thesespeech recognition object words 60.

[0040] Consecutively, if discrimination is made that the speechrecognition object word 60, coincided with the digital datacorresponding to the voice input, is present in the current map image ofthe screen of the display 40 (in case of “YES” in step ST102), theprocessing is routed to step ST108 that will be described later.

[0041] On the contrary, if discrimination is made that the speechrecognition object word 60, coincided with the digital datacorresponding to the voice input, is not present in the current mapimage of the screen of the display 40 (in case of “NO” in step ST102),the speech recognition section 31 discriminates to find whether thespeech recognition object word 60, coincided with the digital datacorresponding to the voice input, is present in a corresponding region(hereinafter, referred to as “display corresponding region”) suitablycorresponding to the display region currently displayed on the display40 (step ST103). In particular, attempt is made this time to allow thespeech recognition object words 60, present in the display correspondingregion, to be extracted from the database section 20 to executecomparison between the digital data, corresponding to the voice inpututtered by the user, and the extracted speech recognition object words60, and discrimination is made in the speech recognition section 31 tofind whether there is one, which coincides with the digital data, amongthese speech recognition object words 60.

[0042] Here, description is made of the display corresponding regionthat forms an region suitably corresponding to the display regioncurrently displayed on the display 40.

[0043]FIG. 4A is an illustrative view showing map data in an enlargedscale, FIG. 4B is an illustrative view showing map data in a currentdisplay scale and FIG. 4C is an illustrative view showing map data in acontracted scale.

[0044] With respect to square shapes shown with the same size in FIGS.4A to 4C, the square shape shown in FIG. 4A corresponds to a map imageregion GA in an enlarged scale (such as a 10 km scale corresponding to adisplay scale for a wider region in which relatively famous mountains,rivers and buildings are mainly displayed), the square shape shown inFIG. 4B corresponds to a map image region GB in the current displayscale (corresponding to a standard display scale, i.e., in a 1 kmscale), and the square shape shown in FIG. 4C corresponds to a map imageregion GC in a contracted scale (corresponding to a detailed displayscale, i.e., in a 500 m scale, in which mountains, rivers, buildings andthe like are displayed in a more finely fashion), with the map imageregions GA to GC corresponding to regions having areas (dimensions)depending upon respective scales in actual terrains. Further, forexample, the map image region GA per se in FIG. 4A has certain one meshblock MA, the map image region GB per se in FIG. 4B has four mesh blocksMB resulting from the map image region GB that is divided into fourpieces, and the map image region GC per se in FIG. 4C has sixteen meshblocks MC resulting from the map image region GC that are divided intosixteen pieces. That is, map data in respective scales are segmentedinto the mesh blocks and, as one example, there is one mesh block MA inFIG. 4A, there are four pieces of mesh blocks MB in FIG. 4B and thereare sixteen pieces of mesh blocks MC in FIG. 4C. And, the mesh blocks inthe map data in each scale are represented as map elements having thesame area (dimensions) but different in locations. As a consequence, inthe actual terrains, one mesh block MA in FIG. 4A corresponds to a landdistrict wider than that of one mesh block MB, and one mesh block MC inFIG. 4C corresponds to a land district narrower than that of one meshblock MB in FIG. 4B. Namely, the higher the rate of the enlarged scaleof the mesh block, the wider will be the region to be displayed withsuch a mesh block, and the higher the rate of the contracted scale ofthe mesh block, the narrower will be the region to be displayed withsuch a mesh block.

[0045] Here, a display region 61 corresponds to the current displayimage in the image data shown in FIG. 4B, and a region 62 formed byprojecting the display region 61 of the current display image in theimage data shown in FIG. 4B onto the image data in the enlarged scale inFIG. 4A with the same area (dimensions) forms a part of the mesh blockMA. In contrast, a region 62′ formed by projecting the display region 61of the current display image in the image data shown in FIG. 4B onto theimage data in the contracted scale in FIG. 4C in the same areas(dimensions) straddles a plurality of small-sized mesh blocks MC. Thatis, the regions, formed by projecting the display region 61 of the imagedata corresponding to such a current display image onto the image datawith the enlarged scale and the image data with the contracted scalewith the same areas (dimensions) correspond to the display region 61 inrespective scales and, thus, such regions are referred to as displaycorresponding regions which are representatively shown in FIGS. 4A and4C. Accordingly, the display corresponding region 62 in FIG. 4A isrelated to the image data in the enlarged scale differing from thecurrent display scale and thus has a probability in which a new speechrecognition object word is present, while the display correspondingregion 62′ in FIG. 4C is related to image data in the contracted scalediffering from the current display scale and thus has anotherprobability in which another new speech recognition object word ispresent.

[0046] That is, in step ST103, the speech recognition section 31 attendsto execute so-called second speech recognition processing for the speechrecognition object words further including the new speech recognitionobject words of these display corresponding regions 62, 62′. This meansthat, if a failure takes place in speech recognition using the speechrecognition object words 60 currently displayed on the display 40 (incase of “NO” in step ST102), the speech recognition section 31 attendsto execute speech recognition processing again for the speechrecognition object words 60 except for the speech recognition objectwords currently displayed in the display 40. In other word, the speechrecognition section 31 attends to execute second speech recognitionprocessing not only for the speech recognition object words present inthe display region 61 of the current display image but also for thespeech recognition object words present in the display correspondingregions 62, 62′ appearing in the scales (the enlarged scale in FIG. 4Aand the contracted scale in FIG. 4C) different from the current displayscale.

[0047] Further, in the presently filed embodiment, since map data aredivided into the mesh forms and stored, the processing of step ST103 canalso be executed in manner described below.

[0048]FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing a display correspondingregion 62″ with map data being divided into the mesh form and stored.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 5 illustratively showing image data in thecontracted scale, the speech recognition section 31 sets regions thatinclude mesh blocks 63 a to 63 d which overlaps the displaycorresponding region 62′ in the contracted scale, as a displaycorresponding region 62″. That is, the region resulting from the displaycorresponding region 62′ that is regionally enlarged in the scale suchas the contracted scale attends to be used as the display correspondingregion 62″. Accordingly, the speech recognition section 31 attends toexecute second speech recognition processing for the speech recognitionobject words involving the new speech recognition object words in thedisplay corresponding regions 62″ (63 a to 63 d). This means that, if afailure takes place in speech recognition using the speech recognitionobject words 60 currently displayed in the display 40 (in case of “NO”in step ST102), the speech recognition section 31 also attends toexecute speech recognition processing again for the speech recognitionobject words 60 except for the speech recognition object words currentlydisplayed on the display 40. In other word, during a series of steps upto step ST103, the speech recognition section 31 attends to execute thespeech recognition processing for the speech recognition object wordspresent in the display region 61 of the current display image or, evenif they are not present in the display region 61 of the current displayimage, present in the display corresponding region 62″ resulting from afurther enlarged display corresponding region 62′ that corresponds tothe display region 61 in the scale, such as the contracted scale.Incidentally, the speech recognition section 31 may be configured toperform the second speech recognition processing for an object of thespeech recognition object words 60 present in the mesh blocks 63 a and63 b that overlap one another not less than a predetermined area (suchas a value greater than one six of the area of each mesh block) amongthe mesh blocks 63 a to 63 d, which overlap with the displaycorresponding region 62′. Moreover, of course, the processing describedwith reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C and the processing described withreference to FIG. 5 may be suitably combined, and it is notobjectionable to similarly enlarge not only the display correspondingregion 62′ in the contracted scale but also the display region 61 in thecurrent display scale to define the display equivalent region 62″ whileit is not objectionable to suitably set the mesh in the enlarged scaleto similarly enlarge the display corresponding region 62 to allow thedisplay corresponding region 62″ to be defined.

[0050] Turning again to FIG. 2 for further description, if the judgmentis made that the speech recognition object word 60 coincided with thedigital data corresponding to the voice input is present in the displaycorresponding region (in case of “YES” in step ST103), the processing isrouted to step ST108 which will be described later. On the contrary, ifthe judgment is made that the speech recognition object word 60coincided with the digital data corresponding to the voice input is notpresent in the display corresponding region (in case of “NO” in stepST103), the speech recognition section 31 acquires the travel historydepending on the weeks and days from the vehicle history acquiringdevice 12 (step ST104).

[0051] Here, description is made of the travel history depending on theweeks and days.

[0052]FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing the travel historydepending on the weeks and days.

[0053] In FIG. 6, the vehicle history acquiring device 12 obtains anaverage of respective travel distances in respect of the weekdays(Monday to Friday) and the holidays (Saturday and Sunday) and stores thesame in a memory which is not shown.

[0054] In a case that a total travel distance in Monday reaches 75 km, atotal travel distance in Tuesday reaches 65 km, a total travel distancein Wednesday reaches 75 km, a total travel distance in Thursday reaches65 km and a total travel distance in Friday reaches 70 km, an average ofthese travel distances is obtained and stored as an average traveldistance of 70 km in the weekdays. Also, in a case that a total traveldistance in Saturday reaches 90 km and a total travel distance in Sundayreaches 100 km, an average travel distance in the holidays is stored as95 km.

[0055] Turning again to FIG. 2 for further description, subsequent tostep ST104, the speech recognition section 31 sets an expanded region ina predetermined scale, such as the enlarged scale, in dependence on thetravel history and the land attribute for the purpose of carrying outspeech recognition processing that will be described below (step ST105).

[0056] More particularly, the speech recognition section 31 acquires theland attribute of a place, in which the vehicle is currently located,based on the current positional information, inputted in step ST101, andthe map data associated therewith and determines the scale to be used,such as the enlarged scale, and determines the expanded region in suchscale based on the land attribute and the travel history furtherinputted in step ST104.

[0057] Here, although the “land attribute” involves attributes relatedto regions such as suburbs and cities, of course, it is not limited tothese examples and may also include attributes related to roads such asmountain paths and straight roads.

[0058] Then, the speech recognition section 31 executes speechrecognition processing based on the expanded region with such a scale(step ST106). That is, if the judgment is made that there is no speechrecognition object word 60 in coincidence with the digital datacorresponding to the voice input in respect of the display correspondingregion, that is, if a failure takes place in recognition processing ofthe speech recognition object words 60 (in case of “NO” in step ST103),the speech recognition section 31 attends to carry out so-called secondspeech recognition processing for the speech recognition object words 60present as the display object in the expanded region when rendering thecurrent display scale to be shifted into the expanded scale.Incidentally, of course, it is possible to execute second speechrecognition processing for the speech recognition object words 60present in the expanded region, in which the current display scale perse is maintained as it is and also the display region 61 per se of thecurrent display scale is expanded, or in the expanded region, in whichthe current display scale is shifted into the contracted scale and alsothe display corresponding region 62′ of the contracted scale, as thedisplay object.

[0059] Here, the expanded region is described below in further detail.

[0060]FIG. 7 is an illustrative view for illustrating the expandedregion in image data in a typically enlarged scale. Also, a square shapein FIG. 7 indicates the map image region GA of map data in the enlargedscale similar to that of FIG. 4A.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 7, the “expanded region 63” corresponds to aregion in that the display corresponding region 62 is expanded with itscenter in alignment with the expanded region to form a similar figure.That is, since the expanded region 63 corresponds to one in which thedisplay corresponding region 62 is expanded in the similar figure, theexpanded region 63 forms a region that is wider than the display region61 which is currently displayed. Also, the “expanded scale” means ascale expanded in a level greater than the current display scale, thatis, by at least a so-called one stage, as described with reference toFIGS. 4A and 4B. Incidentally, of course, if circumstances demand, theexpanded region may take any other forms than the similar figure.

[0062] Accordingly, when in the processing of step ST106, it is possibleto execute a variety of processing that can be suitably set independence on the settings of the expanded scale and the expanded region63 in step ST105.

[0063] Next, the processing of step ST106 associated with such anexpanded region is described more in detail in conjunction with severalexamples.

[0064] First, description is made of a first example of the processingin step ST106.

[0065]FIGS. 8A and 8B are views for illustrating how the expanded scaleis set based on the current display scale and, in such an expandedscale, how the expanded region 63 is set, for use as a first example ofthe processing of step ST106. Namely, depending on the travel history,the expanded scale resulting from the current display scale expanded bythe so-called one stage is set and, in such a scale, the expanded region63 is set as if the display corresponding region 62, that is, thedisplay region 61 is expanded. Also, the square shapes, shown in FIGS.8A and 8B in the same size, respectively correspond to the map imageregion GA, in FIG. 8A, with the same expanded scale as that of FIG. 4Aand the map image region GB, in FIG. 8B, with the same current displayscale as that that of FIG. 4B.

[0066] More particularly, when in the processing of step ST106 in thisexample, in consideration of a tendency in that the travel distance inthe holydays (Saturday and Sunday) is longer than that of the weekdays(Monday to Friday), the speech recognition section 31 attends to performsecond speech recognition processing for the speech recognition objectwords 60 within the display corresponding region 62 in the weekdays andperform second speech recognition processing for the speech recognitionobject words 60 within the expanded region 63 that resulted from thedisplay corresponding region 62 and expanded in consideration of thetravel distance that becomes longer in the holidays.

[0067] Next, description is made of a second example of the processingin step ST106.

[0068]FIGS. 9A and 9B are views for illustrating how a plurality ofexpanded scales are set from the current display scale and, in suchexpanded scales, how expanded regions 63 ₁, 63 ₂ are set, for use as thesecond example of the processing of step ST106. Namely, depending on thetravel history, an expanded scale (indicated by an arrow 1) resultingfrom the current display scale expanded in scale by a so-called onestage and another expanded scale (indicated by an arrow 2) resultingfrom the current display scale expanded in scale by so-called two stagesare set, and in such scales, the expanded regions 63 ₁, 63 ₂ resultingfrom the display corresponding regions 62 ₁, 62 ₂ corresponding to thedisplay region 61 are set. Also, the square shapes shown in the samesize in FIGS. 9A and 9B respectively correspond to a map image regionGA, in FIG. 9A, with the same expanded scale as that of FIG. 4A, a mapimage region GA′ (with being indicated by a broken line), in FIG. 9A,with the further expanded scale by the two stages, and a map imageregion GB, in FIG. 9B, with the same current display scale as that ofFIG. 4B. Also, for the sake of convenience, the number of mesh blockscorresponding to the map image region GA in FIG. 9A is settled toinclude four pieces, and the number of mesh blocks corresponding to themap image region GB in FIG. 9B is settled to include sixteen pieces.

[0069] Further, in the scale expanded by the two stages in FIG. 9A, theexpanded region 63 ₂ is assigned as an entire region that can bedisplayed on the display 40, that is, the expanded region 63 ₂ is aregion that corresponds to the map image region GA′. And, if desired, itis not objectionable for directly setting the expanded regions 63 ₁, 63₂ while omitting the display corresponding regions 62 ₁, 62 ₂.

[0070] More particularly, when in the processing of step ST106 in thisexample, in the weekdays, the speech recognition section 31 attends toperform second speech recognition processing for the speech recognitionobject words 60 of the expanded region 63, that is enlarged in the scaleby the one stage from the current display scale and, in the holidays,perform second speech recognition processing for the speech recognitionobject words 60 of the expanded region 63 ₂ that is enlarged in thescale by the two stages from the current display scale. Because, thisexample is contemplated to consider that the travel distance in theweekdays tends to be shorter than that of the holidays.

[0071] Next, description is made of a third example of the processing instep ST106. In the third example, the enlarged scale and the expandedregion 63 are contemplated to be set in consideration of the travelhistory and the land attribute, more specifically, aiming at the traveldistance associated with which day of the week and on which place thevehicle travels.

[0072] More particularly, when in the processing of step ST106 in thisexample, if in the weekdays where the travel distance is supposed to beless than a predetermined distance and the vehicle remains undertraveling in the city, as shown by an arrow 1 in FIGS. 9A and 9B, thespeech recognition section 31 attends to perform second speechrecognition processing for the speech recognition object words 60present in the expanded region 63 ₁ in the enlarged scale that isenlarged by the one stage from the current display scale. However, inconsideration of a situation wherein even when the vehicle travels inthe weekdays, if the vehicle remains under traveling in the suburb, thetravel distance increases and exceeds the predetermined distance, asshown by the arrow 2 in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the speech recognition section31 attends to perform second speech recognition processing for thespeech recognition object words 60 present in the expanded region 63 ₂in the enlarged scale that is enlarged by the two stages from thecurrent display scale. On the contrary, if in the holidays where thetravel distance is supposed to increase and exceed the predetermineddistance, regardless of the location on which the vehicle travels, thespeech recognition section 31 attends to execute second speechrecognition processing for the speech recognition object words 60present in the expanded region 63 ₂ in the enlarged scale that isenlarged by the two stages from the current display scale. Incidentally,such a predetermined distance may be set to a value of approximately 40km.

[0073] Next, description is made of a fourth example of the processingin step ST106. Like in the third example, the fourth examplecontemplates to allow the enlarged scale to be set in dependence on thetravel history and the land attribute. However, this example differsfrom the third example in that in a case that the travel distance isless than the predetermined distance and the vehicle remains undertraveling in the city, second speech recognition processing forrecognition object words is executed not using the expanded region butusing the display corresponding region in the enlarged scale that isenlarged by the one stage from the current display scale.

[0074]FIGS. 10A and 10B are views for illustrating how a plurality ofexpanded scales are set from the current display scale and, in suchexpanded scales, how the display corresponding regions 62 ₁, 62 ₂ andthe expanded regions 63 ₁, 63 ₂ are set, for use as the fourth exampleof the processing of step ST106. Also, the square shapes shown in thesame size in FIGS. 10A and 10B respectively correspond to the map imageregions GA, in FIG. 10A, with the same expanded scale as that of FIG.9A, a map image region GA′ (with being indicated by a broken line), inFIG. 10A, with the further expanded scale by the two stages as that ofFIG. 9A, and the map image region GB, in FIG. 10B, with the same currentdisplay scale as that of FIG. 9B. Also, for the sake of convenience, thenumber of mesh blocks corresponding to the map image region GA in FIG.10A is settled to include four pieces, and the number of mesh blockscorresponding to the map image region GB in FIG. 10B is settled toinclude sixteen pieces. Moreover, FIGS. 11A and 11B are views forillustrating how the expanded scale of the first stage is set based onthe current display scale and, in such an expanded scale, how thedisplay corresponding region 62 ₁ and the expanded region 63 ₁ are set.Incidentally, the square shapes shown in the same size in FIGS. 11A and11B respectively indicate the map image regions GA, in FIG. 11A, withthe expanded scale and the map image region GB, in FIG. 11B, with thecurrent display scale. Also, in the figure, since the meshes are similarto those of FIGS. 10A and 10B, description of the same is hereinomitted.

[0075] More particularly, when in the processing of step ST106 in thisexample, if in the weekdays, the travel distance is supposed to be lessthan the predetermined distance and the vehicle remains under travelingin the city, as shown by the arrow 1 in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the speechrecognition section 31 attends to perform second recognition processingfor the speech recognition object words 60 present in the displaycorresponding region 62 ₁ in place of the expanded region 63 ₁ used inthe third example with the enlarged scale being enlarged by the onestage from the current display scale. However, in consideration of asituation where even in the weekdays, if the vehicle remains undertraveling in the suburb, the travel distance increases and exceeds thepredetermined distance, like in a manner as shown by the arrow 2 inFIGS. 9A and 9B, the speech recognition section 31 attends to performsecond recognition processing for the speech recognition object words 60present in the expanded region 63 ₂ in the enlarged scale that isenlarged by the two stages from the current display scale. On thecontrary, if in the holidays where the travel distance is supposed toincrease and exceed the predetermined distance, regardless of thelocation on which the vehicle travels, the speech recognition section 31attends to execute second recognition processing for the speechrecognition object words 60 present in the expanded region 63 ₂ in theenlarged scale that is enlarged by the two stages from the currentdisplay scale. Incidentally, such a predetermined distance may be set toa value of approximately 40 km.

[0076] Like in the first to fourth examples set forth above, by usingthe display corresponding region as it is or using the expanded regionin the enlarged scale determined in step ST105, in other words, byutilizing one of or both the expanded region and the enlarged scale, theprocessing of step ST 106 is executed. Incidentally, it is of course tobe noted that in the first to fourth examples, like in step ST103,second speech recognition processing may be made for the speechrecognition object words 60 present in the mesh blocks 63 a to 63 db,which overlap one another, or second speech recognition processing maybe made by selecting those which overlap over an extent not less than apredetermined area among the mesh blocks 63 a to 63 d that overlap oneanother.

[0077] Turning again to FIG. 2, explanation is made of processing. Inthe speech recognition section 31, if the judgment is made that thespeech recognition object word 60 in coincidence with the digital datacorresponding to the voice input is present in the expanded region (incase of “YES” in step ST106), the processing is routed to step ST108that will be described below. In contrast, if the judgment is made thatthe speech recognition object word in coincidence with the digital datacorresponding to the voice input is not present in the expanded region(in case of “NO” in step ST106), the judgment is further executed tofind whether the speech recognition object words 60 present in the otherregion than that made to be the object is in coincidence with thedigital data (step ST107).

[0078]FIGS. 12A to 12C are views illustrating the processing of stepST107.

[0079] As shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C, in step ST107, the speechrecognition section 31 attends to execute second speech recognitionprocessing for the region except for the display corresponding regions62, 62′ and the display region 61 within the expanded regions 63, 63 ₀,63′, respectively. The square shapes shown in the same size in FIGS. 12Ato 12C respectively correspond to the map image regions GA, in FIG. 12A,in the enlarged scale and the map image region GB, in FIG. 12B, in thecurrent display scale and a map image region GC, in FIG. 12C, in thecontracted scale. Also, the expanded regions 63, 63 ₀, 63′ are theregions that are expanded and set in the same way as that of step ST106.

[0080] More particularly, in the enlarged scale shown in FIG. 12A,second speech recognition processing is executed in respect of a regionexcept for the display corresponding region 62 in the expanded region63, and in the current display scale shown in FIG. 12B, second speechrecognition processing is executed in respect of a region except for thedisplay region 61 in the expanded region 63 ₀, while in the contractedscale shown in FIG. 12C, second speech recognition processing isexecuted in respect of a region except for the display correspondingregion 62′ in the expanded region 63′. Here, typically, since theprocessing for the judgment to find whether the speech recognitionobject word 60 corresponding to image data in the enlarged scale ispresent has been terminated during the processing of step ST106, asshown in FIGS. 12B and 12C, the speech recognition section 31 serves toexecute second speech recognition processing for the speech recognitionobject words 60 present in the region except for the displaycorresponding region 62′ in the expanded region 63′ remaining in thecontracted scale resulting from the current display scale that iscontracted by the one stage. Of course, if circumstances demand, asshown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, second speech recognition processing may beexecuted in respect of the region except for the display correspondingregion 62 in the expanded region 63 with the enlarged scale, and ifcircumstances demand, second speech recognition processing may beexecuted in respect of the region except for the display region 61within the expanded region 63 ₀ while allowing the current display scaleshown in FIG. 12B to be maintained.

[0081] Here, in the speech recognition section 31, if the judgment ismade that the speech recognition object word 60 coincided with thedigital data corresponding to the voice input is present in such otherregion (in case of “YES” in step ST107), the processing is routed tostep ST108. On the contrary, if the judgment is made that no such aspeech recognition object word 60 is present in such other region, thespeech recognition section 31 sequentially lowers a hierarchy of thescale to advance steps of the contracted scale and executes secondspeech recognition processing for the speech recognition object words 60present in the other region with such lowered scale. And, with respectto all the scale hierarchies that are preliminarily prepared, if thejudgment is made that no speech recognition object word 60 coincidedwith the digital data corresponding to the voice input is present (incase of “NO” in step ST107), the processing is shifted to step ST109.That is, if a failure takes place in recognition the processing with theenlarged scale (in case of “NO” in step ST106), then, the speechrecognition section 31 attends to carry out second speech recognitionprocessing for the speech recognition object words 60 present in theother region that has not been regarded to be a recognition objectregion up to now within the expanded region 63′ or the like at the scalewhich is typically contracted from the current display scale. Also, thenumber of times where the current display scale is to be contracted isnot limitative and, if desired, it may not be objectionable for thecontraction to be executed only one time.

[0082] Incidentally, in the processing of step ST107, as shown in FIG.5, like in steps ST103, ST106, second speech recognition processing maybe executed in respect of the region overlapped with the mesh blocksand, among the regions overlapped with the mesh blocks in such a way,selecting one which overlaps at a ratio not less than a predeterminedarea may also allow second speech recognition processing to be executed.

[0083] Turning now again to FIG. 2 and description is made. As set forthabove, if the judgment is made that the speech recognition object word60 coincided with the digital data corresponding to the voice input ispresent in the image of the current display screen (in case of “YES” instep ST102), if the judgment is made that the speech recognition objectword 60 coincided with the digital data corresponding to the voice inputis present within the display corresponding region (in case of “YES” instep ST103), if the judgment is made that the speech recognition objectword 60 coincided with the digital data corresponding to the voice inputis present within the expanded region (in case of “YES” in step ST106)and if the judgment is made that the speech recognition object word 60coincided with the digital data corresponding to the voice input ispresent within the other region in the display scale in which thedisplay scale is typically contracted (in case of “YES” in step ST107),the display processor section 32 compels the map image that includes thespeech recognition object word 60 recognized through such recognitionprocessing to be displayed on the display 40 (step ST108).

[0084] More specifically, in the presence of the speech recognitionobject word 60 within the screen that is currently displayed (in case of“YES” in step ST102), the display processor section 32 keeps the displayscale as it is and allows the speech recognition object word 60, whichis recognized, to be emphasized on the display 40. On the contrary, inthe absence of the speech recognition object word 60 within the screenthat is currently displayed (in case of “YES” in step ST103, step ST106and step ST107), the display scale is altered so as to allow the speechrecognition object word 60 to appear to be displayed on the screen ofthe display 40 in the emphasized manner. For example, as shown in FIG.13, if the user utters a word of “ISOGO” in a situation where no word of“ISOGO” is displayed on the screen of the display 40, the displayprocessor section 32 alters the display scale to allow the imageincluding the word of “ISOGO” to be provided on the display 40 with theword of “ISOGO” being emphasized. And, the processing is shifted to stepST 110. Incidentally, reference numeral “64” in FIG. 13 schematicallyindicates the region in the original display scale and this means thatthe display scale is altered in a way to allow a wider region than thatof such an original display scale to be displayed.

[0085] Subsequently, the navigation device 1 executes navigationprocessing (step ST110). That is, in a situation where the user utterscommands “Look at a certain object” or “Go to a certain object place”(with such a certain object or such an object place being in charge ofthe speech recognition object word 60), the navigation device 1 operatesto, for example, display a district, designated by the speechrecognition object word 60, at the center portion of the screen of thedisplay 40 or to set such a district to a destination for guide thereto.

[0086] On the contrary, if the judgment is made that no speechrecognition object word 60 coincided with the digital data correspondingto the voice input is present in any of the hierarchies (in case of “NO”in step ST107), the display processor section 32 provides such a resultof speech recognition on the display 40 so as to indicate that thespeech recognition object word 60 is not present. That is, a particularrange (a display scale range, such as a range from 500 m to 10 km) ofthe hierarchy that is made the object for the second speech recognitionprocessing is displayed on the display 40 (step ST109). Moreover, inthis instance, the display processor section 32 compels the speaker 50to produce a voice for notifying the user with the information with nocoincidence with the speech recognition object word 60. And, the currentprocessing is terminated.

[0087] Incidentally, although plural speech recognition processing (stepST103, step ST106 and step ST107) have been carried out in theembodiments set forth above, either processing may be carried out onetime, and also either ones of second speech recognition processing inrespective examples in step ST 106 may be carried out more than twotimes in a sense of complementary purpose.

[0088] As described above, in the navigation device of the presentinvention, if a failure takes place in the recognition of the speechrecognition object word, the speech recognition section executes thesecond speech recognition processing for the speech recognition objectword except for the speech recognition object word currently displayedon the display. In particular, the second speech recognition processingis executed not only for the speech recognition object word present inthe display region but also for the speech recognition object word thatshould be the display object whose display scale is rendered to bedifferent from the current display scale. For this reason, even if thespeech recognition object word not displayed in the current displayscale is uttered by the user, it becomes possible to recognize such aspeech recognition object word. Accordingly, the command of the speechrecognition object word can be accomplished in an easy and reliablemanner.

[0089] Further, with the normal navigation device, there are manyprobabilities in which the speech recognition object word is located ata given position within its corresponding district in the map image. Forthis reason, although a part of such a district is displayed, if such agiven position is not displayed, a situation occurs in that the speechrecognition object word suffers from an inability to be displayed whilecausing an obstacle to be encountered in the voice input. However, inthe presently filed embodiment, since the speech recognition sectionperforms recognition processing even for the speech recognition objectword that form the display object which is present within the expandedregion and when the current display scale is converted to the enlargedscale, the command for the speech recognition object word can be moreeasily and reliably performed.

[0090] Furthermore, since the speech recognition section sets thedisplay scale and the expanded region depending on the travel history ofthe vehicle, the second speech recognition processing can be executeddepending on the weeks and days while, for example, storing the travelhistory as the history classified with the weeks and days, resulting ina capability of performing the speech recognition in a further efficientand reliable manner.

[0091] Furthermore, since the speech recognition section sets thedisplay scale and the expanded region depending on the current positionof the vehicle and the land attribute, the second speech recognitionprocessing can be executed depending on the current position (such asthe cities and suburbs) of the vehicle, resulting in a capability ofperforming the speech recognition in a further efficient and reliablemanner.

[0092] Moreover, the speech recognition section performs the recognitionprocessing for the speech recognition object word that forms the displayobject present within the expanded region and in the display scale whoseenlarged scale is enlarged or contracted. In particular, the speechrecognition section attends to perform the speech recognition in theexpanded region for the speech recognition object word, covering from awider area display with relatively famous mountains and buildings beingprincipally displayed to a detailed display in which a further finedisplay is performed. Accordingly, the second speech recognitionprocessing covering wide ranges and multiple hierarchies can beperformed, enabling an accuracy of the recognition of the speechrecognition object word to be increased.

[0093] Further, since the speech recognition section performs the secondspeech recognition processing for the speech recognition object word,which is present in the mesh blocks overlapped with the display regionin the suitable display scale to be the display object, it is possibleto achieve the processing at a higher speed than that attained whenindividually extracting the map data into the speech recognition objectwords by a unit of the mesh block. Moreover, likewise, it is possible tosimilarly achieve the recognition processing at a high speed for thespeech recognition object word in the mesh blocks overlapped with thedisplay corresponding region or the expanded region.

[0094] In addition, since the speech recognition section performs thesecond speech recognition processing for the speech recognition objectword which is present in the mesh blocks overlapped at a rate not lessthan the predetermined area among the mesh blocks which overlap oneanother, the second recognition processing in respect of the mesh blocksthat only overlap at a rate less than the predetermined area can beomitted, enabling the processing to be executed at a further increasedspeed.

[0095] Also, since the display processor section provides the range ofthe display scale, which is made the object for the second speechrecognition processing, on the display, if the word uttered by the useris not voice recognized, the user is able to know the range of thedisplay scale that is made the object for second recognition processingand, thus, it becomes possible to find out the words uttered by the userfrom the range that is not made the object for second recognition,resulting in an improved serviceableness.

[0096] Additionally, since the display processor section allows the mapimage involving the speech recognition object word, recognized upon thesecond speech recognition processing, to be displayed on the display,the user is able to confirm its location, resulting in a furtherimproved serviceableness. Especially, due to an ability of permittingthe current position of the vehicle, in addition to the position of thespeech recognition object word, to be displayed on the display, itbecomes possible to confirm a distance between the vehicle location anda position which the user demands to designate, thereby enabling afurther improved serviceableness to be provided.

[0097] The entire content of a Patent Application No. TOKUGAN2002-329554 with a filing date of Nov. 13, 2002 in Japan is herebyincorporated by reference.

[0098] Although the invention has been described above by reference to acertain embodiment of the invention, the invention is not limited to theembodiment described above. Modifications and variations of theembodiment described above will occur to those skilled in the art, inlight of the teachings. The scope of the invention is defined withreference to the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A navigation device adapted to be installed on avehicle and enabling information to be provided to an occupant of thevehicle, the navigation device comprising: a display section displayingan image to an occupant of a vehicle; a speech recognition sectionexecuting speech recognition processing for a voice input relating to aspeech recognition object word that is a word to be an object for speechrecognition, in such a manner that in a case that a failure occurs inrecognition as to the speech recognition object word, second speechrecognition processing is executed for the speech recognition objectword except for the speech recognition object word present in the imagecurrently displayed in the display section; and an information providingprocessor section compelling a predetermined image to be displayed onthe display section based on a recognized content resulting through thespeech recognition processing in a case that the speech recognitionobject word is recognized through the speech recognition processing. 2.The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the speechrecognition section executes the second speech recognition processingfor the speech recognition object word that is present as a displayobject in a display scale different from a display scale of the imagecurrently displayed on the display section.
 3. The navigation deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the speech recognition section executes atleast one of the second speech recognition processing for the speechrecognition object word that is present as a display object in anexpanded region obtained by enlarging a display region of the imagecurrently displayed on the display section and the second speechrecognition processing for the speech recognition object word that ispresent as a display object when a display scale of the image currentlydisplayed on the display section is rendered to be an enlarged scale. 4.The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the speechrecognition section executes at least one of the second speechrecognition processing relating to the expanded region and the secondspeech recognition processing relating to the enlarged scale, based on atravel history of the vehicle.
 5. The navigation device according toclaim 3, wherein the speech recognition section executes at least one ofthe second speech recognition processing relating to the expanded regionand the second speech recognition processing relating to the enlargedscale, based on a land attribute of a current position of the vehicle.6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the speechrecognition section executes the second speech recognition processingfor a speech recognition object word that is present as a display objectin an expanded region obtained by enlarging a display region of theimage currently displayed on the display section and when a displayscale of the image currently displayed on the display section isrendered to be a contracted scale.
 7. The navigation device according toclaim 1, further comprising a data section that divides map data, forthe image to be displayed on the display section, into mesh-like blocksand stores the map data, wherein the speech recognition section executesthe second speech recognition processing for the speech recognitionobject word that is present as a display object in an overlapped block,which is overlapped with a display region of the image currentlydisplayed on the display section among the mesh-like blocks, and in adisplay scale different from a display scale of the image currentlydisplayed on the display section.
 8. The navigation device according toclaim 7, wherein the speech recognition section executes the secondspeech recognition processing for the speech recognition object wordpresent in the overlapped block that is overlapped with the displayregion at a rate not less than a predetermined region.
 9. The navigationdevice according to claim 1, further comprising a data section thatdivides map data, for the image to be displayed on the display section,into mesh-like blocks and stores the map data, wherein the speechrecognition section executes the second speech recognition processingfor the speech recognition object word that is present as a displayobject in an overlapped block, which is overlapped with an expandedregion obtained by enlarging a display region of the image currentlydisplayed on the display section, and when a display scale of the imagecurrently displayed on the display section is rendered to be an enlargedscale.
 10. The navigation device according to claim 9, wherein thespeech recognition section executes the second speech recognitionprocessing for the speech recognition object word present in theoverlapped block that is overlapped with the display region at a ratenot less than a predetermined area.
 11. The navigation device accordingto claim 1, further comprising a data section that divides map data, forthe image to be displayed on the display section, into mesh-like blocksand stores the map data, wherein the speech recognition section executesthe second speech recognition processing for the speech recognitionobject word that is present as a display object in an overlapped block,which is overlapped with an expanded region obtained by enlarging adisplay region of the image currently displayed on the display section,and when a display scale of the image currently displayed on the displaysection is rendered to be a contracted scale.
 12. The navigation deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the speech recognition section executesthe second speech recognition processing for the speech recognitionobject word present in the overlapped block that is overlapped with thedisplay region at a rate not less than a predetermined area.
 13. Thenavigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display processorsection allows a range of a display scale that is made to be an objectfor the second speech recognition processing to be further displayed onthe display section.
 14. The navigation device according to claim 1,wherein the display processor section allows the speech recognitionobject word recognized through the second speech recognition processingto be further displayed on the display section.
 15. A navigation deviceadapted to be installed on a vehicle and enabling information to beprovided to an occupant of the vehicle, the navigation devicecomprising: displaying means for displaying an image to an occupant of avehicle; speech recognition processing means for processing to executespeech recognition processing for a voice input relating to a speechrecognition object word that is a word to be an object for speechrecognition, in such a manner that in a case that a failure occurs inrecognition as to the speech recognition object word, second speechrecognition processing is executed for the speech recognition objectword except for the speech recognition object word present in the imagecurrently displayed in the display section; and information providingprocessing means for processing to compel a predetermined image to bedisplayed on the display section based on a recognized content resultingthrough the speech recognition processing in a case that the speechrecognition object word is recognized through the speech recognitionprocessing.
 16. A method of recognizing a speech in a navigation deviceadapted to be installed on a vehicle and enabling information to beprovided to an occupant of the vehicle through a display section, themethod comprising: executing, when speech recognition processing for avoice input relating to a speech recognition object word that is a wordto be an object for speech recognition is performed and in the presenceof a failure of recognition for the speech recognition object word,second speech recognition processing for the speech recognition objectword except for the speech recognition object word present in the imagecurrently displayed in a display section; and displaying, when thespeech recognition processing for the voice input relating to the speechrecognition object word and in the presence of recognition of the speechrecognition object word, a predetermined image on the display sectionbased on a recognized content resulting through the speech recognitionprocessing.